l Agricultural Show at York three years ago the Prince obtained what
is generally regarded as the highest honour of the showyard--viz., the
prize for a family group consisting of mother and several daughters.

The Prince has been not less conspicuously successful with his Southdown
sheep, as this flock, first formed in 1886 by the selection of sheep
from the flocks of the Duke of Richmond at Goodwood, Lord Walsingham at
Merton, Mr. Webb at Babraham, and Mr. Gorringe at Kingston, has won
sixty-eight first and sixty-two second prizes, to say nothing of minor
distinctions, bringing the total of prizes up to 183, while at the
Smithfield Show last winter three Southdowns from Sandringham won the
L50 champion cup and the gold medal as the best pen of sheep in the
hall. These facts being well known to all those who attended the sale,
while they had the further assurance that all the lots offered would be
sold without any of those reservations which mar so many auctions, the
bidding was very brisk; but in spite of this the number of lots was so
great that the sale, commencing at two o'clock, lasted until nearly six.

The detail of the sale only concern those who have to do with buying or
breeding: and the records of the pedigree stock, and the prices
obtained, and other particulars, will be found in the reports of the
meeting. To the general reader of this book the whole proceedings are
full of interest, as being a scene of genuine English country life, and
the Prince of Wales was thoroughly in his element as the centre of the
grand agricultural assemblage. How Washington Irving would have rejoiced
to be there, and what a description he would have given of the scene!

SION COLLEGE.

_December 15th, 1886._

Sion College was founded by the Rev. Dr. White, Vicar of St. Dunstan's
in the West, in the time of Charles I. He held several other
preferments, but we forgive him for being a notable pluralist because he
made such good use of his money. By his will he left L3000 for the
purchase of a site in the City of London, for erecting a hospital,
consisting of twenty almshouses, and a college, which he endowed, with
an annual revenue, not large, but sufficient in those times. Dr. White's
intention was to enable the clergy of the City of London, and the
incumbents of outlying parishes, to obtain corporate existence, like
other crafts and professions, and so be legally qualified to hold and to
administer property. This was we